NFL Franchise Year-by-Year Genealogy

The roots of every NFL football team can be traced in this year-by-year NFL genealogy section. This detailed listing includes the year each team began play, franchise movement between cities, and NFL team name changes.

This NFL genealogy has been divided for convenience, so pick a year and begin your investigation of the history of NFL franchises.

The NFL awarded Atlanta a new franchise to begin play in the Eastern Conference in 1966.
Miami is awarded a franchise by the AFL and is named the Dolphins by contest. It is to begin play in the Eastern Division in 1966.

The NFL and AFL effectively merge with plans to go to a 2 conference 4 division setup in 1970 or after.
New Orleans is awarded a franchise by the NFL, to be later named the Saints and to begin play in the Eastern Conference in 1967

Atlanta is moved to the Western Conference. For the 1967 season, the conferences will be split up as follows:

New York will move to the Capitol Division for 1968, then back to the Century Division for 1969. Likewise, New Orleans will move to the Century Division for 1968, then back to the Capitol Division for 1969.

The NFL and AFL merge their schedules and go to the current two conference, six division format. The AFL becomes the AFC with the Steelers, Browns and Colts moved there from the NFL. The rest of the NFL becomes the NFC. This is the only time a rival league has successfully merged with the NFL.

Tampa Bay is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in 1976 in the AFC West and switch to the NFC Central in 1977
Seattle is awarded a franchise by the NFL and begins play in 1976 in the NFC West and switch to the AFC West in 1977